Rugby League: Keighley Cougars 20, Leigh Centurions 20.

Martin Wood marked his return to Keighley Cougars action with a superb performance which he capped with two tries in their first pre-season friendly.

The loose forward illustrated just what a good signing he can be for Lee Crooks' side as they look to be in contention for the First Division title.

Wood also created a try for fellow returning hero Steve Hall in the opening 27 minutes to help power Cougars into a seemingly unassailable 16-0 lead.

However, three Leigh tries in eight minutes either side of the break brought the visitors level in a highly-competitive friendly from which both coaches will have learned a lot.

Although the result means nothing, Crooks will have been concerned with the way his side threw away the chance of victory after Wood had played a leading role in Cougars' fourth try when substitute Kris Kirk crossed with 18 minutes remaining.

Unfortunately for the home fans in a fine 2,010 crowd, Keighley could not hold on to that lead, Leigh centre Kieran Purtill crossing in the final minute.

Wood was comfortably the best player on the field as Cougars eased back into action, with his solid defence being allied to some fine attacking play.

Hall also impressed on his return to Cougar Park with some hard tackling and strong running, while second row forward Andrew Schick and young prop Steve Campbell worked very hard.

Cougars were below strength against a large Leigh side who were at full strength, and yet still took control in the opening stages.

They went ahead after just ten minutes when Wood followed up his own grubber kick to touch down before the same player was put through seven minutes later by a incisive pass from skipper Jason Ramshaw.

And then when Wood's kick ahead bounced kindly for Hall to touch down, the game appeared to be over, despite Cougars failing to hit top gear in attack.

However, slack defensive work before the break allowed Tau Liku and Saf Patel to touch down in quick succession, and when David Whittle scored in the 45th minute the scores were level.

Cougars then looked to have won when Kirk crossed with his first touch, only for Purtill to touch down in the final minute to ensure honours ended even.

Keighley Cougars: Foster; Longo, Smith, Wainwright, Calvert; Tyrer, Antionik; Campbell, Ramshaw, M Campbell, Schick, Rich, Wood. Subs: Robinson, Owen, Kirk, Hall.

Leigh Centurions: Donlan; P Wingfield, Hadcroft, Purtill, Dickinson; Patel, Dean; Street, Murray, Whittle, Costello, Liku, Fairclough. Subs: C Wingfield, Platt, Arkwright, Ingram, Jenkins, Norman.

Referee: Peter Taberner (Wigan)

COUGARS SCORERS: Tries - Wood 2, Kirk, Hall. Goals - Antonik two (from four).

Richard Sutcliffe

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.